Jadyn Case

I thought of an idea for a plot last night and this morning realized it needs to be a YA in order to make it less predictable.  I’ve never written a YA before and like when I started writing chick lit, haven’t read many lately.  I guess I need to pull out my daughter’s books and the library card.

In the meantime, I need to continue writing A Man to Dye For and start brainstorming this new one.  According to my daughter, who just turned 14 last Sunday, my chick lit voice is similar to that of a YA voice, so at least I have that as a start.  Plus, having a teen in your house certainly helps too. My own little source of inspiration and research.  How kewl is that?!

I just finished this amazing book last week.

It started right where California Demons ended, and not only did I have all my questions answered, I got another surprise and teary ending.  Not teary as in so sad you shouldn’t read it.  Oh no!  Teary as in it’s so damn good I can’t wait until the next book.  Which just so happens to have been released this summer.  And of course there are 3 holds on it at the library.  I’m number four.

I expect the next one to be just as amazing as the first three.  Waiting for a fourth will be torture however.  The good thing about reading a series some years after they’re published is no waiting between sequels.

Ms. Kenner created a fabulous premise about a soccer mom/demon hunter–Buffy all grown up.  As a writer, I am purely envious.  As a reader, I am excited and thrilled.  She deserves huge kudos for this series!!

Ok, so I know there as a snafu with sending out the Stiletto entries to some of the judges, so the deadline is pushed back or something, but the original deadline for first round judging was August 26.  This coming Monday.  Not sure what the new date is, but I have to say that I’m starting to get excited, nervous, stomach twirling, etc.  I just want to know, ya know?  LOL

Even though a large chunk of the book has changed now.  If I final, what the editor and agent will read won’t be the final result.  Oh well, one bridge at a time and all.  First, I need to learn if I even got that far. :)  I have to admit, that part of me expects to final based on finaling last year.  Yeah, I know that’s bad. ‘Cause the truth of the matter is…last year’s placement means nothing about this year.  So, I keep reminding myself the results don’t mean anything other than what those particular judges felt about the entry.

As much as I liked to believe last year’s placement signified “I am good enough” or was some type of validation, I know it was really just validation that those particular judges liked that heroine.  It has no bearing on my future as a writer or my overall ability.  Ok, can you tell I’m starting to spazz? lol

And the funny thing is today is the first I thought about it in over two months.

So, I’m actually having a ton of fun adding the ghost to my WIP, writing new scenes and lightly revising the ones I already have.  Part of that may be because pre-ghost I had just finished chapter 10 (out of 24) and was on page 103 or something (out of 360).  Now, I’m on chapter 16 (out of 28–still half but it doesn’t feel that way) and on page 202.  Hitting page 200 was a wowing moment.  Even if I still have half a book to write, and it gets to be a 400 page ms, it still feels like I’m more than half way there.

Plus, and probably the real reason it feels so great, adding the ghost made it a bit more interesting.  It gave me another humor point and when I have those scenes that seem to drag, now I have something to add to make it thicker.

I managed to get through another two chapter of revisions as well as write one new scene, in my WIP.  I’m feeling really good about it.  After this book is done, I’d love to make a decision on what to do with my last one, Vows, Voices & Voodoo (as well as get a new title) and revise that baby.  Jessa totally deserves it.

Right now, I’m headed off to judge my last Stiletto entry (discrepancy round), so I can have that done.

Ok, so this post is much shorter than I anticipated.  I wanted to talk about the revisions, but I’ve realized there isn’t much to say. LOL!  So, next time.

Well, it’s not actually new.  It’s just an added element that makes it feel new.

Now, Giada’s best friend, Randall, is not only dead, but he’s a ghost.  She can see, hear and communicate with him–which won’t be easy once she’s in CA on the reality show.  LOL, love making my characters lives difficult.

I finished adding this to the first two chapters, now working on the third.  I may not get any more done tonight.  I’m tired and working on other things.  But I’m very excited about the alterations.

At first, I thought about adding a paranormal element to my WIP in order to use this particular tag line: Murder, Magick & Mary Janes.  It was the one I concocted last year while working on my paranormal chick lit mystery.  I could change the word “magick”, but while nothing came to be, I did get the notion that my heroine, Giada, can see dead people.  I mean how cool and hopefully funny that she gets to talk to her dead friend, right?

Then while working on the new site, I thought of “makeup”.  Not only does it fit the little avatar in the middle above, but it begins with “m”, and all my heroines wear makeup.  I may still change it back, but
for now it kinda flows.  So then I don’t need Giada to see the dead.  I got all my bases covered.  But…

Now I like the idea of her talking to her dead friend.  And if this becomes a series, this friend, Randall, can stick around and help her on all cases.  That would be uber cool, no?  So, I keep him.  The only problem though, is smoothing out the rough edges.  He can’t remember how he died–makes perfect “sense”, but why does he not tell her who Freckles is?  I have one reason, but that would make it obvious who Freckles is.  I need more.

So instead of Randall being an ex-junkie with an accidental overdose (didn’t know how to spin that one anyway), he will be missing.  He was hit (beaten?) with his baseball bat, which is missing, and there’s some blood trickles on the baseboards.  Giada knows he’s dead (well, especially after seeing his spirit and all), but the authorities don’t have a body, therefore, he could just be missing.

Why does a man not tell his best friend (a female) who he’s dating?  Is that just a guy thing, or would there need to be a reason?  This question may have to go to the Diva Dudes.